David Cameron has admitted he "contemplated having to go" if Scotland voted for independence.

The Prime Minister said he would have been "heartbroken" by the break-up of the UK and considered his position when polls put the Yes campaign ahead just days before the referendum.

Speaking to the Sun on Sunday, Cameron said: "Of course, I contemplated having to go. I thought, 'What's the right thing to do?' In many ways the easiest thing would be to say, 'I feel wounded by this' and walk away.

"In the end I came to the conclusion that would not have been the right thing to do."

Scottish voters later rejected independence by 55% to 45% and it was First Minister Alex Salmond who resigned, announcing hours after the result was declared that he would be stepping down in November.

Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick will open today's proceedings with "time for reflection", a Holyrood slot normally reserved for spiritual or philosophical contributions from religious or secular figureheads.

Mr Salmond's statement will be followed by two days of debate on the future of Scotland, with Labour leader Johann Lamont, Conservative leader Ruth Davidson and Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie expected to open with responses from the Scottish opposition parties.

Scotland voted against independence by a majority of 55% in the referendum on Thursday.

While the Labour leadership debated the economy today, the Conservative party continued to push English MPs voting on English laws.
William Hague said any party that did not link such reforms to more powers for Scotland could pay at the General Election.
ITV News Deputy Political Editor, Chris Ship, reports: